Barrier

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a flood barrier which, in one embodiment, comprises a resiliently deformable barrier mounted removably via frame members on post footing. At least some embodiments of the barrier may be more rapidly and easily deployable and may be considerably lighter and cheaper to manufacture and yet provide surprising durability and resistance to water flows compared to conventional barrier constructions.

This invention relates to environmental protection barriers, andparticularly, but not exclusively to barriers for protection againstcoastal erosion and flooding.

The problems associated with coastal erosion and flooding are only toofamiliar, and damage caused by flooding and erosion runs into hundredsof millions of pounds each year. In extreme circumstances the damage canextend to human injuries and fatalities.

Many different types of coastal defence schemes and wave erosionbarriers have been proposed in the past. Such schemes typically rely onthe use of massive constructions to dissipate the wave energy. Examplesinclude concrete sea walls, rock revetments and groynes. Such defencestypically cost over £3000 per metre to employ.

Prior art flood protection measures include very large scale, highexpenditure schemes, such as earthworks or reinforced concrete walls. Atthe other end of the scale sandbags are often used in flood situations,however these offer very limited resistance, especially to fast flowingwater, and once breached, the sand can actually add to the weight of theflood water, increasing the possible damage caused.

It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide animproved environmental protection barrier which overcomes or amelioratesdisadvantages in prior art barriers. It is a further object to providean environmental protection barrier which is inexpensive and quick andsimple to employ.

In a first aspect the invention provides an environmental protectionbarrier for providing protection from a moving body of water, saidbarrier comprising a resiliently deformable barrier portion and meansfor securing said barrier portion in the path of said body of water,wherein said barrier portion is adapted to deform or move reversiblyfrom an initial configuration to absorb or deflect energy from saidmoving body of water.

In this way, energy from water impacting onto the barrier is dissipatedas the resilient portion flexes or moves. Although prior art barriershave typically relied on having a very large mass, the novel arrangementof this invention has been found to be surprisingly effective atdissipating energy, despite being relatively lightweight and quicklydeployable. The material for the resiliently deformable portion issuitably chosen to have high hysteresis for maximum energy dissipation.It is advantageous that the resilient portion does not undergo permanentdeformation. At the same time sufficient structural rigidity is providedby the securing means to maintain the deformable portion in the path ofthe fluid. It should be understood that references to water will includeany sediment and debris carried in the water, and may extend to slurriesand mud flows for example. In one embodiment the barrier portion issubstantially impermeable

In one embodiment, the means for securing comprises a plurality ofsubstantially rigid upwardly extending posts. This arrangement isadvantageous for providing a flood barrier with the posts securing thedeformable barrier substantially perpendicular to the ground. Such anembodiment has been found to be able to withstand lateral pressures ofthe order of 100 tonnes per square metre.

Said means for securing may additionally comprise a plurality ofsubstantially rigid frame members, each frame member adapted to belocated between said posts. The frame members are suitably include anumber of horizontal and/or vertical braces. The barrier portion, asflat sheets, can advantageously be attached directly to the framemembers by adhesive or screws or such like. The frame members may merelyprovide a means for attaching the resilient portion to the posts, andmay not be intended to add any structural rigidity to the barrier. Ofcourse the resilient portion could be secured to the posts directly ifdesired.

In this way a composite structure is effectively formed having asubstantially rigid matrix with deformable portions between the postsand cross braces.

In one embodiment the posts include channels to allow the frame membersto be located by sliding. Suitably the channels extend vertically, andthe frame members and are located by sliding vertically downwards intolocating channels of adjacent posts. In certain arrangements nothingfurther is required to attach the frame members to the posts. The postsneed not be arranged in a straight line, and can be offset so aseffectively to provide a curved barrier. The vertical slidingarrangement is advantageous in this respect, since each frame member canbe angled relative to the next, without requiring any, or only verylittle modification to post or frame member.

A rigid blade member can usefully be fitted to the base of each framemember, adapted to be inserted into the ground In one embodiment theblade is driven into the ground when the frame member is slid intoposition, the weight of the frame providing a driving force. The blademember suitably extend the length of the frame, and when driven into theground helps prevent water flowing under the barrier and/or washing awaythe surface layer. An alternative arrangement is to provide a deformablelip at the base of each frame to engage the ground, most simply achievedby extending the barrier portion below the edge of the frame.

While in the majority of embodiments each post must be substantiallyparallel to the next, these features allow slight variations in heightbetween posts, the lip or blade arrangement accommodating a slightslope.

The posts are advantageously removably deployable onto post footings, toallow the barrier to be quickly and easily assembled, and disassembledas and when required. In one embodiment the post footings include asubstantially flat plate adapted to be secured to the ground by bolts orpins. The post footings may be embedded or partially embedded in theground, either permanently or temporarily. Alternatively the footingsmay be secured to any sufficiently rigid anchor surface (eg bolting to aconcrete surface). It may be advantageous for footings to besubstantially flush with the ground level so that they are unobtrusivewhen in place. Different posts in the same barrier may use differenttypes of footings as desired.

In one embodiment the posts are further supported by stays which extendfrom the posts to the ground, at an angel to the posts.

In one embodiment the posts and frame portions are modular, allowingsubstantially any number of barrier portions to be erected on top of oneanother and side by side. Thus a simple kit of common modular parts canbe employed to erect a barrier of any width or height within practicallimits.

Different embodiments of the invention may employ a resilientlydeformable barrier portion having thicknesses specified as follows:

Greater than 5 mm

Less than 50 mm

Between 10 and 20 mm

Although the thickness may vary these figures are intended to refer to arepresentative measure of thickness such as average thickness, or thethickness of a representative portion. Different embodiments of theinvention may employ a resiliently deformable barrier portion having amass per unit area specified as follows:

Greater than 5 kg per square metre.

Between 5 and 20 kg per square metre

Approximately 10 kg per square metre

In a second embodiment, the barrier portion is adapted to be fastened toa surface to be protected, secured by one or more pinning membersadapted to be driven into said surface. Such an embodiment can usefullybe employed as a defence against coastal erosion. The barrier portioncan be pinned directly to an area of coast, such as a cliff face, toprovide protection against wave erosion.

The said barrier portion suitably comprises a number of individualresilient elements. Different embodiments of the invention haveresilient elements specified as follows:

Area greater than 1 square metre

Area greater than 2 square metres

Area between 2 and 10 square metres

The individual elements can be secured abutting one another or partiallyoverlapping one another. It may be desirable for the elements tointerlock, for example by having complementary profiled edges.

Pins or pinning members used may be simple nails or stakes, but largebolts or specialist fastenings may be employed, depending on the surfaceto be protected. Pinning members will suitably have appropriately shapedheads to secure the elements in place. In one embodiment the pinningmembers are adapted to be driven at least 20 cm into said surface to beprotected.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the barrier portion is formed ofan elastomeric material produced from recycled vehicle tyres. Thisprovides a low cost, environmentally friendly material source.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method ofproducing an environmental barrier including a resiliently deformablesheet of elastomeric material, said method comprising the steps of:

-   -   breaking one or more vehicle tyres into fragments;    -   heating said tyre fragments;    -   adding a resin substance to said heated tyre fragment;    -   forming said mixture into substantially planar sheets

Any manner of vehicle tyres can be used, car and truck tyres being mostreadily available. Breaking the tyres into fragments can be performedusing any suitable method such as cutting or grinding. In one embodimentthe tyres are broken into fragments of 2 to 10 mm in size. The formingstep may comprise pressure forming such as pressure moulding, but otherpressure forming techniques, such as rolling could be employed.

The material specification for the sheets is not particularly stringent,and the entire tyre can be used in the method, including any wire builtinto the tyre. This results in a simplified process with no separationsteps required, and reduces waste. In certain embodiments, fragments ofwire in the sheet can be advantageous, producing a crude fibrecomposite.

In one embodiment fragments are heated to approximately 30 to 60 degreesCelsius, although the fragments and resin could be formed withoutheating. Sheets are advantageously formed having a thickness of between10 and 20 mm. Holes and eyelets may be formed into said sheets.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method for erecting adeployable flood barrier comprising the steps of:

-   -   locating a plurality of posts into a corresponding plurality of        footings;    -   attaching a plurality of frame members to said posts;    -   attaching a substantially impermeable, resiliently deformable        layer to said posts and said cross members.

In an embodiment where footings are driven into the ground, the methodmay further comprise using an alignment tool to align one or morefootings in relation to an existing footing, and to maintain thefooting(s) in alignment while they are driven into the ground. Thisfeature of the invention may also be provided independently. Thealignment tool may allow footings to be aligned in a straight line, ormay allow footings to be aligned at an offset angle. Alignment isusually always at a specified distance from the adjacent footing, andusually also ensures footings (and hence therefore also posts) areparallel.

In one embodiment, the method further includes partially inserting anelongate blade into the ground, and may include attaching one or moreangled stays to one or more of the posts.

A still further aspect of the invention provides a method for protectinga surface from coastal erosion, said method comprising the steps of:

-   -   placing a resiliently deformable layer against said surface; and    -   securing said resiliently deformable layer to said surface by        driving a plurality of pinning members through said layer, into        said surface.

In one embodiment the method further comprises aligning a furtherdeformable layer in relation to an existing layer, and securing saidfurther layer.

Another aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts for floodprotection barrier comprising:

-   -   a plurality of footings adapted to receive corresponding posts;    -   a plurality of posts adapted to be located into said footings;    -   a plurality of frame members adapted to be attached to said        posts    -   one or more sheets of resiliently deformable material adapted to        be secured relative to said posts and to said cross members

The kit may additionally comprise one or more alignment tools foraligning said footings relative to one another. The kit may furthercomprise an elongate blade, adapted to be partially inserted into theground at the base of said flood protection barrier. In one embodimentthe resilient sheets are pre-attached to the frame members.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts for acoastal erosion barrier comprising:

-   -   one or more sheets of resiliently deformable material    -   a plurality of pinning members for securing said one or more        sheets to a surface to be protected

In one embodiment the sheets include a plurality of eyelets to receivesaid pins.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a footing for a deployable flood barrier according to oneaspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows views of a post assembly for a deployable flood barrieraccording to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a frame member for a deployable flood barrier according toone aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled side elevation of an embodiment of a deployableflood barrier according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a deployable floodbarrier according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates patterns in which a barrier according to the presentinvention can be deployed;

FIG. 9 illustrates an alignment tool for use in erecting a deployableflood barrier according to an aspect of the present invention

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative alignment tool;

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a coastal erosion defence according to anaspect of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows a detail scrap view of a rubber sheet suitable for use inthe present invention.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a footing is shown in front (102) andside (104) views. The footing is generally hollow square section and hasa dull point 106 at the base, and a ground plate 108 welded around theoutside close to the top. The footing also has an internal stop 110approximately halfway along the length of the footing, and securingholes 112 above the ground plate, for receiving a toggle pin.

FIG. 2 a shows an inner post locating member 202. The locating member ishollow square section and dimensioned to be a close fit inside thefootings and posts which are both of similar section. The locatingmember has securing holes 204 which align with securing holes in thefooting and in the posts when the barrier is assembled.

FIG. 2 b is a side view and FIG. 2 c a sectional view (not to scale) ofa post 206. The sectional view shows the post has a hollow squaresection body 208 and a ‘T’ profiled rib 210 extending along the frontface of the post. The rib creates two vertically extending channels 212on each side of the post, when assembled.

FIG. 3 a illustrates a frame member 300 having a number of vertical 302and horizontal 304 braces. FIG. 3 b shows a blade 306 which may besecured to the base of frame member 300.

Referring to the side elevation shown in FIG. 4, a post 402 is shownaffixed to footing 404 extending below the ground level indicated as406. An inner locating member 408 extends inside the hollow footing andrests on stop 410 of the footing. The locating member also extends upinto the post 402, the base of the post butting against the footing tolocate the post vertically. Cross members 412 (extending into the pageas viewed in FIG. 1) of a frame member are located against the frontside of the posts. Attached to the front of the frame is a sheet ofrubber 414. The sheet of rubber extends down to a lip 416, formed by thebase of the frame member, running along the width of the structure(viewed into the page) a short distance above the ground. An elongateblade 418 extends vertically downwards from the lip, and is designed topenetrate into the ground at the base of the barrier, as shown.

It can be seen from FIG. 4, that a further locating member could beinserted into the top of any given post, can then effectively acts as afooting for a further post member, thus creating a modular structure.

The footings in FIG. 4 additionally include a base plate 420 adapted torest on the ground, and secured in place by a number of pegs 422.

A compression stay 424 is attached close to the top of post 402 with astirrup and pin joint. The lower end of the stay is attached to asecondary base plate 426, which is secured to the ground by pegs. Thesecondary base plate is set back from the post, with the stay angled atapproximately 45 degrees to the vertical.

FIG. 5 shows a front elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 4. elements ofthe frame members 512 can be seen more clearly. The downwardly extendingblade 518 is also more clearly shown attached to the lowermost part ofthe frame member.

The posts, inner locating members and footings are secured by togglepins 532 extending through holes which are aligned when the componentsare assembled. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the footings extend adistance into the ground substantially equal to the height of the potswhen in position.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5. It can be seenthat the frame members 602 and associated rubber sheets 604 are locatedin the channels of each pair of adjacent posts. In this arrangement theframe members can easily be slid vertically into position between twoappropriately spaced posts.

While the arrangement of FIG. 6 can accommodate frame members, and hencepost placements, at slight angles, FIG. 7 shows an arrangement whichcaters for offsets of a greater angle. The frame portions include twomodified tongue and groove joints 702 to allow a limited degree ofbending. Of course, the rubber portion attached to the frame does notrequire modification to allow bending. Alternatively, rigid frameportions can include fixed bends. For example, a frame portion could beprovided with two 15 degree bends, thereby allowing adjacent posts tohave a relative rotation of 30 degrees.

FIG. 8 a shows a barrier 802 used to form a protective ring arrangementaround a group of buildings. FIG. 8 b shows a number of barriers 804deployed in a chicane pattern, to dissipate energy from water moving inthe direction indicated by arrow A.

An alignment tool in shown in plan in FIG. 9 a and in side elevation inFIG. 9 b. The tool is generally T shaped, having a datum collar 902 atthe ‘base’ of the T, an insertion collar 904 roughly at the centre ofthe tool, and a pair of feet 906 at the end of the ‘top’ member. Thedatum collar is designed to fit a datum post 908, which is inserted intoa footing which is already located in place (not shown). The datum posthas a square section lower portion for locating securely into a footing,and a generally circular section upper portion, having a dowel rod 910extending radially outwards near the top of the datum post. The datumcollar is generally cylindrical and designed to fit closely around theupper portion of the datum post. The datum collar has a slot 912 cutinto the top edge, into which the dowel rod of the datum post isreceived. Thus the datum post and collar position the alignment tool andallow only rotation about the axis of the datum post the maximum angleof rotation determined by the width of the slot. A second slot may beprovided which does not allow any rotation, constraining the alignmenttool to be perpendicular to the square section of the datum post.

The insertion collar 904 has an outer portion 914 which is rigidlymounted, and an inner portion 916 which is moveable inside the outerportion. The outer portion is of the form of a hollow cylinder, and theinner portion has a complementary cylindrical exterior, and a squaresection interior to receive and locate a post footing such as that ofFIG. 1, to be driven into the ground. In a similar fashion to the datumcollar and post arrangement, a dowel rod 918 of the inner portionlocates in a slot 920 of the outer portion to provide a degree oflimited rotation about a vertical axis, relative to the perpendicularposition shown in the figure. Both inner and outer portions of theinsertion collar have an open side to allow footing to be removed fromthe insertion collar laterally. The inner portion can be ‘closed’ withtoggle pins 922 passing through a fastening collar as shown.

This arrangement therefore allows a footing to be located at the correctdistance from a neighbouring footing, and maintained parallel to thatfooting while being driven into the ground. The new footing can be inline with the previous footing or at an angle (by virtue of the datumcollar arrangement) and can itself be square or oriented at an angle (byvirtue of the insertion collar arrangement). When the footing is mostlyembedded in the ground (the ground plate prevents full embedding whilethe alignment tool is in place) the datum post can be lifted out of theexisting footing and datum collar, the toggle pins of the insertioncollar removed, and the alignment tool taken away laterally. The newfooting can then be driven the remaining distance into the ground.

FIG. 10 shows a second type of alignment tool, similar in a number ofrespects to the first. Again the structure is generally T shaped with adatum post 1002 and collar 1004 at one end. In this arrangement however,the datum post and collar constrain the apparatus to be perpendicular tothe existing footing. In this arrangement three footings 1006 aresimultaneously aligned for insertion into the ground. The insertioncollars 1008 are each fixed to the T structure and each constrain afooting perpendicular to the structure. A three pronged anvil 1010 canbe inserted into the three footings and can be used to allow the threefootings to be driven into the ground simultaneously.

The posts, footings, cross members, beams and girders are made of boxsection steel or aluminium. Connections between these members may beclamps, pins, bolts, welds, or any other suitable means.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in use as adefence against coastal erosion. A section of steeply sloping coastline1102, such as a cliff face is shown, having a number of substantiallyvertical portions. A number of sheets of rubber 1104 are arrangedagainst the cliff face, and secured by pins 1106 driven through thesheets into the rockface. The sheets are secured in the path of thewaves as they hit the coastline. The sheets are shown overlapping, withthe pins down abutting edges securing both sheets to the cliff face.

FIG. 12 shown a detail of a rubber sheet 1204, having a hole 1206 formedtherein, through which securing pins can be driven. A metal eyelet 1208is provided around the hole to prevent ripping or tearing of the sheetat the hole.

It will be understood that the present invention has been describedabove purely by way of example, and modification of detail can be madewithin the scope of the invention.

Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) theclaims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriatecombination.

1. An environmental protection barrier for providing protection from amoving body of water, said barrier comprising a resiliently deformablebarrier portion mounted on substantially rigid frame members adapted tobe located between a plurality of substantially rigid upwardly extendingposts, so as to secure said barrier portion in the path of said body ofwater, said posts being removably deployable onto post footingsextending at least 50 cm below ground level; wherein said resilientlydeformable barrier portion has a thickness of between 5 and 50 mm and amass per unit area of between 5 and 20 kg per square metre, and whereinsaid barrier portion is adapted to deform or move reversibly from aninitial configuration to absorb or deflect energy from said moving bodyof water.
 2. An environmental protection barrier according to claim 1,wherein said posts include channels into which said frame members can beslid.
 3. An environmental protection barrier according to claim 2,wherein said channels extend vertically, and whereby said frame membersare located by vertical sliding.
 4. An environmental protection barrieraccording to claim 3, wherein said frame members are secured to saidposts by said vertical sliding alone.
 5. An environmental protectionbarrier according to claim 1, wherein said frame members include a rigidblade at the base adapted to be inserted into the ground.
 6. Anenvironmental protection barrier according to claim 1, wherein said postfootings include a substantially flat plate adapted to be secured to theground by bolts or pins.
 7. An environmental protection barrier forproviding protection from a moving body of water, said barriercomprising a resiliently deformable barrier portion secured in the pathof said body of water by a plurality of substantially rigid upwardlyextending posts, wherein said resiliently deformable barrier portion hasa thickness of at least 5 mm and a mass per unit area of at least 5 kgper square metre, and wherein said barrier portion is adapted to deformor move reversibly from an initial configuration to absorb or deflectenergy from said moving body of water.
 8. An environmental protectionbarrier according to claim 7, wherein said posts are removablydeployable onto post footings.
 9. An environmental protection barrieraccording to claim 7, wherein said post footings extend at leastpartially below ground level.
 10. An environmental protection barrieraccording to claim 1, wherein said posts are further supported by stayswhich extend from said posts to the ground, at an angle to the posts 11.A method for erecting a deployable flood barrier comprising the stepsof: securing a plurality of posts to a corresponding plurality of postfootings; attaching a plurality of frame members to said posts; andattaching a substantially impermeable, resiliently deformable layer tosaid frame members, said resiliently deformable layer having a thicknessof between 5 and 50 mm and a mass per unit area of between 5 and 20 kgper square metre
 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein attachingsaid frame members to said posts is achieved by sliding motion of theframe members.
 13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said methodfurther includes partially inserting an elongate blade into the ground.14. A method according to claim 11, wherein said method further includesaligning one or more footings in relation to an existing footing, andmaintaining the footing(s) in alignment in a horizontal plane whilstsaid footing(s) are driven into the ground.
 15. A method according toclaim 14 wherein maintaining the footing(s) in alignment furtherincludes maintaining the footing(s) substantially parallel to anexisting footing whilst said footing(s) are driven into the ground. 16.A method according to claim 14, wherein aligning is achieved using analignment tool.
 17. A method according to claim 14, wherein more thanone footing can be aligned and driven into the ground simultaneously.